1 Samuel 13:13-14 (NASBStr)
Samuel said to Saul, “ You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”
Saul decided it was alright for him to worship God and lead worship when God told him to wait. As a result, God took his leadership away. Moses, in his day, was told to speak to a rock, as commanded by God, so that water would flow from it for the nation of Israel. But, instead of speaking to the rock he struck the rock. As a result God took his leadership from him and refused to allow him to enter the promise land. David, in committing the sin with Bathsheba, tried to cover up his failure by killing Uriah, Bathsheba's husband at the time. As a result God told him he would not be able to build the Temple for God, since he was a man of blood. In all three cases the leader disobeyed God and there was a consequence to their leadership. Jesus taught is in Luke 12:48 that to whom much is given much is required. When leaders fail they bring down others. When leaders don't obey God's Word others are validated to follow their behavior. The books of 1 and 2 Kings bear out this principle. This was the beginning of the end of Saul. He had started out so committed to the things of God (see chapter 11). But, he disobeyed which showed fear and pride (see 1 Samuel 15:10). God took the kingdom from him at this point and prepared to give it to David. Leadership is held to a different standard. They are not to be pedestrian. They are to lead. And they do lead. So, when they lead the wrong way their are consequences.
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